The Conservative Cave
Current Events => General Discussion => Topic started by: cavegal on May 16, 2010, 08:14:52 PM
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http://www.examiner.com/x-38220-Orlando-Independent-Examiner~y2010m5d2-500K-device-may-have-prevented-oil-spill
Yes, that's correct...a device that costs one half million dollars may have prevented what is on track to become the worst oil spill in U.S. history.
The device is called an acoustic trigger (aka. acoustic switch, actuator). It is a remote-controlled device deployed off oil rigs that sends acoustic impulses through the water, triggering an underwater valve or explosives to shut down the well even if the rig is catastrophically damaged or abandoned.
All offshore rigs have one main switch to shut off the flow of oil by closing a valve located on the ocean floor. There is also supposed to be a backup called a “dead man,†that will shut down the well in the event of a catastrophe on the rig.
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The valve/BOP still has to function correctly. Having an acoustic sensor means diddly if the valve it triggers doesn't work. This is just more piling on of BP, and by association, the oil industry and capitalism in general.